08 works, Today, December 28th, is The 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia's day, their story, illustrated #360

Troganov school
Detail; Saint Cyril, c. 17th C

Russian I con

Church-Archaeological Office of the Moscow Theological Academy.

Stroganov School is a conventional name for the last major Russian icon-painting school, which thrived under the patronage of the rich Stroganov family of merchants in the late 16th and 17th century.

"Stroganov School" owes its name to frequent mentioning of the Stroganovs on the markings on the back of the icons of Yemelyan Moskvitin, Stefan Pakhirya, Prokopy Chirin, Istoma, Nazariy, and Nikifor Saviny. Most of these icon painters, however, did not belong to the Stroganov School. They were icon painters from Moscow and executed commissions by the tsar. Many of their works were eventually acquired by the Stroganovs, who had been known as connoisseurs of sophisticated craftsmanship. 

The works of art of the Stroganov School have quite a few features in common, such as small size, diminutiveness, refined palette, density of paint layers, graphic precision of details, fragile characters' postures and gestures, richness of their vestments, and complicated landscape background. More on the Stroganov School

The 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia refers to victims of persecution of Christians in Nicomedia, Bithynia (modern Izmit, Turkey) by the Roman Emperors Diocletian and Maximian in the early 4th century AD.

At this time the bishop of the city of Nicomedia was Saint Cyril, whose preaching had greatly contributed to the spread of the Gospel.

Haround Binous

Emperor Diocletian
Facial Reconstruction

I have no further description, at this time

Haround Binous

Emperor Maximian (284-305)
Facial Reconstruction

I have no further description, at this time

At the turn of the fourth century, the Roman emperor Maximian (284-305) was growing increasingly angry over the spread of Christianity throughout the Empire. Even members of his court had been revealed as secret Christians.

Unknown artist

The church burned in Nicomedia, c. 985

Illustration

Constantinople. 985. Miniature Minology of Vasily II.

Vatican Library, Rome

According to various martyrologies and menologies, the persecution included the burning of a church that held numerous Christians on Christmas Day.

Unknown artist

Triumph of Maximian

Triumph of Titus

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

I have no further description, at this time

This event took place when the emperor Maximian (284-305) returned with victory over Ethiopians in 304 AD. It happened after they had refused to sacrifice to idols during Christmas Mass in order to thank gods for the victory he had acquired. 

Unknown artist

Glycerius of Nicomedia

 Miniature Minology of Vasily II. Constantinople, c. 985

Vatican Library, Rome

Later Maximian and his soldiers entered the church and told the Christians they could escape punishment if they renounced Christ. The Christian priest Glycerius answered that the Christians would never "renounce their faith, even under the threat of torture". 

Unknown artist

The 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia

Mural of the 16th century AD.

Holy Monastery of Dionysiou. Mount Athos

Maximian ordered him to be burned to death. Those who had not been burned in the church were captured and tortured to death. The bishop Anthimos who had escaped burning in the church was captured and beheaded.

Unknown artist

Bishop Anthimos was beheaded

Miniature Minology of Vasily II. Constantinople, c. 985

Vatican Library, Rome

The number 20,000 may be apocryphal. However, the martyrs of Nicomedia continue to be honored with feast days: they are commemorated on 28 December in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and by the Byzantine Catholic Churches. In the Roman Martyrology of the Roman Catholic Church, there are separate entries for groups of martyrs of Nicomedia. The martyrdom of Anthimus of Nicomedia and companions is commemorated on 24 April and "the commemoration of many holy martyrs of Nicomedia" on June 23. More on The 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia

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07 works, Today, December 22nd, is Martyr Anastasia's day, her story, illustrated #354

Unknown iconographer

Anastasia of Sirmium, End of XIII century - first half of XV century

Byzantine Icon

Tempera on wood

Size - 99 x 65.5 cm

 The State Hermitage Museum,  St. Petersburg

Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Widow, the Deliverer from Potions, was born in Rome to a wealthy and prominent family; the daughter of Praetextatus, a Roman vir illustris, the highest ranks within the senates of Rome. Though her father was a pagan, her mother Fausta instructed her in the things of God. Her father married her against her will to Publius, a prodigal and impious man lacking in Christian or pagan virtue. Anastasia was in the custom of dressing herself as a poor working woman and going out by night to visit and comfort the many Christians in prison, during the time of Diocletian's persecutions. When Publius discovered this, he was furious that his wife was demeaning herself by consorting with the despised Christians, and had his wife locked in the house with so little food that she came close to death by starvation. 

Michele Giambono, (1400–1462)

Saint Chrysogonus on horseback, circa 1450

Oil on panel

Height: 199 cm (78.3 in); Width: 134 cm (52.7 in)

San Trovaso, Venice, Italy

Michele Giambono, original name Michele di Taddeo di Giovanni Bono, (born c. 1400, Venice—died 1462, Venice), leading Venetian Late Gothic painter and mosaicist, the most distinguished member of a large family of artists working in Venice from 1396 to 1546.

Only a few fully authenticated works by Giambono are extant. Among his few signed works are a large polyptych, or multi-panel altarpiece, in the Academy in Venice, and a Madonna in Rome. After the death of Jacobello del Fiore in 1439, Giambono was made director of the mosaic works in St. Mark’s Basilica, where he composed the mosaics on the left side of the vault in the Mascoli Chapel, representing the Birth of the Virgin and the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple. More on Michele Giambono

She was able to get a letter to her spiritual father Chrysogonus, who was also in prison, and their correspondence helped to sustain her through her ordeal. After three months her husband died in a shipwreck and she regained her freedom. Immediately she redoubled her work for the suffering Christians and their families, devoting all her time and wealth to their comfort and care.

Unknown artist

Emperor Diocletian

I have no further description, at this time

One day Diocletian declared that all Christians in his prisons should be slain, and his command was carried out in one night. The next day Anastasia came to visit her beloved companions and, learning that all were dead, fell sobbing by the gate, no longer caring to conceal her Christian faith from anyone. Almost immediately she was arrested and brought before the authorities, who subjected her to every form of abuse. One prefect offered to marry her if she would bow to the idols, but to have her tortured to death if she would not. When she was unmoved, he attempted to rape her, but was struck blind and died miserably. 

Unknown iconographer

Saint Theodoti and her three children

Icon

I have no further description, at this time

She then briefly escaped to Nicaea and found refuge with the pious St Theodota, but was seized again along with Theodota and her children. After further trials and torments Anastasia, Theodota and her children, and others who had been converted to Christ through Anastasia's example, were executed, were beheaded on the island of Palmaria.

Unknown iconographer

The Holy Great-martyr Anastasia the Deliver from Bonds, and others with her

Illustration

Menologion of Basil II. Vatican Library

Another legend reads that Saint Anastasia was stretched between four pillars and burned alive. A certain pious woman named Apollinaria buried her body, which was unharmed by the fire, in the garden outside her house.

Tzortzi (Zorzis) Fuka

Anastasia burned alive, c. 1547

Fresco

Athos (Dionysios). 1547 g.

I found no information on Tzortzi (Zorzis) Fuka

Saint Anastasia's relics were taken to Rome, where a church was built in her honor. The relics were later translated to Constantinople and placed in another church bearing her name, where they worked many miracles. Because she has healed many through her prayers from the effects of poisons and potions, she is called Pharmocolytria, "Deliverer from Potions." More on Great Martyr Anastasia

Unknown iconographer

Martyr Anastasia's Vita scene

Icon

I have no further description, at this time

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, and 365 Saints, also visit my Boards on Pinterest

Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others. Some Images may be subject to copyright

I don't own any of these images - credit is always given when due unless it is unknown to me. if I post your images without your permission, please tell me.

I do not sell art, art prints, framed posters or reproductions. Ads are shown only to compensate the hosting expenses.

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Thank you for visiting my blog and also for liking its posts and pages.

Please note that the content of this post primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online.